2 Tuesday, 7 August 2012 London Late
OLYMPIC SPECIAL
“BEHIND THE SCENES”
First of all, let’s get one thing straight. At the London Late, we love sport. We love hosting a global event in our wonderful city. And we even believe that international events like London 2012 have the power to bring people from all over the world together in shared enjoyment. What we don’t love is how this particular game is being played. As the capital is plastered with billboards, emblazoned with logos and adorned with slogans, we can’t help but notice that no inch of our city has been left untouched by the companies chosen as the ‘Official Sponsors’ of the London Games. Behind the glitz and glamour, the armies of toned athletes and the glossy adverts lurks a murky world of corporate greed. In this special souvenir edition of the London Late, we’ll explore the Olympic legacy of sponsoring companies around the world; exposing sweatshop slavery, chemical disaster, environmental destruction and all matter of dubious deals. It is the London Late’s great pleasure to bring you an exclusive, behind-the scenes whistle stop tour of the seedy underbelly of this most extravagant of Sports Days. The games have most certainly begun, but our corporate team members aren’t playing fair.
London
WHAT’S
Loosening Olympic gender norms: Seriously butch women weight lifters and the fabulous little skips that the men do at the end of their gymnastic routines.
The official Olympics video game having 15 men-only sports and one women-only sport... beach volleyball.
Australian boxer Damien Hooper wearing an Aboriginal flag t-shirt into the ring
Massive over reaction from the Australian Olympics Committee
The long promised ‘nose-armpit crush’ tube moments largely not having materialised.
The sound of Boris Johnson being drilled into our brains in tube stations. Easy to imagine a military coup being chirpily announced in the same tone and format.
First lesbian kiss to be shown on Saudi Arabian TV as part of the Opening Ceremony
Reports of chronic shortage of condoms at the Olympic village. At it like very athletic rabbits, apparently.
Including rather than forgetting Windrush in British history lesson
Forgetting rather than including almost everything to do with Empire and slavery in British history lesson
The sporting prowess, the dedication and the totality of the women’s beach volleyball players.
Women’s beach volleyball players being reduced to butt shots and the ‘lads mag’ mentalities of the newspaper that print them.
Critical Mass - heroes on bikes pushing the urgent need to upgrade cycle safety infrastructure in London
Wiggo - well done for the medals, but not hot for reducing the debate on cycling safety to “if you don’t wear a helmet, you’ve only got yourself to blame.”
HOT...
WELCOME FRIENDS, ENEMIES, LOVERS AND HATERS TO THE RUNNY, JUMPY, SWIMMY BIG MONEY GAMES OF 2012!
Welcome to the...
WHAT’S
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IMAGE: CRIMINAL CHALKLIST
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